Tandem control for pressing machines



G. W. JOHNSON TANDEM CONTROL FOR PRESSING MACHINES Filed April 5, 1955 INVENTOR GEORGE w. JOHNSON /5 d 7/ .0!

Patented Oct. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES TANDEM CONTROL FOR PRESSING MACHINES George W. Johnson, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The American Laundry Machinery Company, Norwood, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application April 5, 1935, Serial No. 14,790

12 .Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in control mechanism for pressing machines such as are generally in use for laundry and garment work. More particularly the invention relates to a tandem control for a plurality of machines.

It is customary in laundries to operate pressing machines in pairs, attended by one operator. It is also customary to connect such a pair of machines for tandem control, that is to say, the control mechanism is arranged so that the operator working at one machine upon closing it is able to actuate the opening mechanism of the other machine so that the pressing members have separated and the steam and heat have somewhat dissipated before she arrives at that machine to remove the finished work. I-Ieretofore it has been customary in such tandem control mechanism to provide an additional manual or other device actuated by the operator at one machine to cause the opening movement at the other machine. Inasmuch, however, as the automatic operation is the usual one, my invention discloses control mechanism, the usual operation of which to produce closing of one machine will also produce opening of the other machine. My improved control mechanism, however, also provides additional means operable to disable the tandem connection so that each machine may be operated independently if desired.

My invention resides in the novel association of the control mechanisms of two pressing machines as more fully set forth in the specification and the accompanying drawing.

The drawing represents a pair of pressing machines in end elevation and partly in section with the control mechanism diagrammatically arranged.

For ease of description I have designated the two pressing machines A and B respectively and since they are alike one only will be described and similar numerals will be applied to the other with the prime suflix.

For illustrative purposes I have shown my invention as applied to pressing machines of the type illustrated, described and claimed in the copending application of John P. Singiser, Ser. No. 642,053, filed November 10, 1932. This copending application discloses a frame I supporting a stationary pressing bed I I and pivotally supporting also on a bracket of the frame a head lever l2 which carries a pressing head l3 adapted to coact with the bed. The head is biased toward open position as shown in press B by a spring l4 connected between the rear end of the head lever and the frame. The head is moved into pressing engagement with the bed by means of a toggle [5 which is moved from broken toward straightened position to close the head upon the bed. For so moving the toggle a fluid actuated cylinder and piston motor I6 is provided having a piston I! r 5 whose piston rod. 18 is connected to the toggle knuckle. Motive fiuid is supplied to motor l6 through conduit I9, check valve 20, port 2|, Valve casing 22 and passage 23. Valve casing 22 houses a reciprocating piston valve 24 having a stem 25 extending rearwardly through the valve casing. A spring 26 normally biases the valve toward the front of the press as shown in press B, which establishes communication from motor l6 through passage 23 to exhaust port 21 so that motor I6 is normally open to atmosphere. When motive fluid is supplied through conduit l9 from a suitable source, piston valve 24 moves to the position shown in press A thus closing the exhaust port and permitting pressure fluid to enter motor 16 through passage 23 to cause. a working stroke of the motor. Moving in unison with the piston rod i8 is a cam 28 having a depressed portion 29 in which a follower 30 is adapted to drop biased by a spring 3 la when the press is substantially completely closed. This establishes a fluid maintaining circuit which maintains the press closed under pressure. The connections for establishing this circuit comprise a bellcrank 3|, one. arm of which carries the follower and an upstanding arm 30 v 32 of which engages the stem 33 of a normally closed inlet valve 3 3 which is housed in a valve casing 35 and supplied with motive fluid through a suitable conduit 36. This mechanism opens valve 34 when follower 36 drops into the depressed 35 portion of the cam 28 and permits motive fluid to pass through conduit 31 to passage 23 which serves to retain valve 24 in the position shown on press A and holds piston IT at the outermost point of its stroke so that the press remains closed under pressure.

The release mechanism comprises a treadle 38 pivotally mounted on the frame and biased in its upward'position by a spring 39. The treadle is connected by a link 4 with a bellcrank 4| which has an upstanding arm 42 which lies opposite the valve stem 25 and in position to abut and move the same upon depression of the treadle and rotation of bellcrank 4| in a clockwise direction as seen at press A. At the same time, the arm 42 of the bellcrank is adapted to engage a projection 3 on bellcrank 3| to rotate the bellcrank in a clockwise direction about its pivot 44 thus permitting valve 3 to return to its normally closed position under the influence of its spring. This 66 cuts off the supply of motive fluid to motor I 6 and opens the same to exhaust port 2'! whereupon spring I4 is effective to reopen the press.

The purpose of check valve 20 is to prevent back flow through conduit I9 after the press is fully closed and the maintaining circuit is established. Power means is provided to actuate the treadle 38 and the form shown comprises a small fluid motor 45 whose piston 46 has a stem 4'! adapted to coact with the upstanding arm I18 of treadle 38 so as to move the treadle in a clockwise direction about its pivot. The piston is biased toward inoperative position by a spring and is supplied with motive fluid through a suitable conduit 49. The piston 46 is sufficiently loose-fitting to permit its return movement by itsbiasing spring.

My improvement comprises a novel interconnection of the control mechanism for two such presses as shown in the drawing. For the supply of motive fluid to motor it; I provide two normally closed inlet valves in series 53 and 5I with a supply conduit 52 communicating with the main conduit 36 and a' conduit 53 connecting the two valves in series. Valve 56 is actuated by manual 54 and valve Si by manual 55 and it will be evident that actuation of both manuals simultaneously will supply motive fluid to conduit I9 and motor I6 as previously described.

Means is provided whereby the normal actuation of the control means for press A energizes the power actuator for the release means of press B. The present embodiment comprises a conduit 56 branching from conduit I9 and leading through valve casing 5'! to conduit 49 to supply motive fluid to release motor 45' of press B. In valve casing 51 is a normally open valve 58 which is actuable by a manual 55. This valve casing 51 'might be a separate device from the control means for motor I6 but preferably it is grouped with one of the inlet valves for motor I6 so that manual 59 and one of the two-hand controls, in the present instance 55, may be grasped by one hand of an operator when desired.

In the normal operation of the machines A and B in tandem, with press A open and press B closed, the operator would arrange the lay of the work upon the bed II and actuate manuals 54.

and 55. This would supply motive fluid to motor I6 which would close the press as already described andwhen the press is finally closed the interconnecting parts will establish the fluid maintaining circuit to keep the press closed under pressure. Simultaneously with the flow of motive fluid through conduit I9 to motor I6 for the purpose of closing press A motive fluid will pass through conduit 49 to motor 45 of press B. This will cause a stroke of piston 46' causing the stem 41 to engage the arm 48 of treadle 38' which will oscillate the treadle in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot thus pulling downwardly upon link 46 which in turn will cause bellcrank -4I' to rotate in a counterclockwise direction so that arm 42 engages stem 25 and moves valve 24' to the position shown at press B. Simultaneously, arm 42' engages the projection 43' of bellcrank 3I to move the latter bellcrank in a counterclockwise direction against the bias 7 of spring 3Ib which will permit valve 34' to be 54' and 55 whereupon press B closes and motive fluid passes through conduit 49 to motor 45 to open press A.

The above is the normal operation of two pressing machines but when the operator desires to 5 operate one press alone, say for instance press A, she actuates manual 54 but simultaneously grasps manuals 55 and 59 so as to actuate valve 5I to open position and valve 58 to closed position, thereupon press A is actuated but nothing 10 happens at press B as no fluid can reach conduit 49.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, two independently operable presses, power means for closing each press, power actuated release means for causing opening of each press, control means for each press-closing means, means normally effective upon actuation of said control means at a first of said presses to energize said release means at the second of said presses, and a manually controlled device at said first press for disabling said last named means.

2. In combination, two independently operable presses, power means for closing each press, poW- or actuated release means for causing opening of each press, two-hand operated control means for each press-closing means, means normally effective upon actuation of said control means at a first of said presses to energize said release means at the second of said presses, and a manually controlled device at said first press for dis abling said last named means.

3. The combination of claim 2, and in which said manually controlled device is grouped with one part of said two-hand operated control means of said first press for simultaneous operation by one hand of the operator.

4. In combination, two independently operable presses, power means for closing each press, 40 means for maintaining each press closed, power actuated means for releasing each maintaining means, control means for each press-closing means, means normally effective upon actuation of said control means at a first of said presses to energize said release means at the second of said presses, and a manually controlled device at said first press for disabling said last named means.

5. The combination of claim 4, and in which said control means includes spaced manuals operable by the two hands of an operator, and said manually controlled device is grouped with one of said manuals by simultaneous operation by one hand of the operator. 7

6. In combination, two independently operable presses, fluid power means for closing each press, means tending to open each press, fluid actuated release means for causing opening of each press, fluid supply means for each power means, open conduit means extending from said fluid supply means at a first of said presses to said release means at the second of said presses, a normally open valve in said conduit means, and a manual at said first press for closing said valve.

7. In combination, two independently operable presses, fluid power means for closing each press, means tending to open each press, fluid actuated release means for causing opening of each press, fluid supply means for each power means including spaced manuals operable by the two hands of an operator, open conduit means extending from said fluid supply means at a first of said presses to said release means at the second of said presses, a normally open valve in said conduit means, and a manual at said first 7B press for closing said valve, said last named manual being grouped with one of said spaced manuals for operation by the same hand of an operator.

8. In combination, two independently operable presses, power means for closing each press, operator actuated means for causing opening of each press, a power actuator for each operator actuated means, control means for each power means, means normally effective upon actuation of said control means at a flrst of said presses for energizing said power actuator at the second of said presses, and a manually controlled device at said first press for disabling said last named means.

9. In combination, two independently operable presses, power means for closing each press, operator actuated means for causing opening of each press, a fluid actuator for each operator actuated means, control means for each power means, means connected with said control means of a first of said presses and normally effective to supply pressure fluid to said actuator at the second of said presses by operation of said control means at said first press in press-closingproducing direction, and a manually controlled device at said first press for disabling said last named means.

10. In combination, two independently operable presses, fluid power means for closing each press, operator-operated release means for causing opening of each press, a fluid actuator for each release means, fluid supply means for each power means including two spaced safety manuals, open conduit means extending from said fluid supply means at a firstof said presses to said fluid actuator at the second of said presses, a normally open valve in said conduit means, and a manual at said first press for closing said valve.

11. The combination of claim 10, in which said last named manual is grouped with one of said spaced safety manuals for grasping of both manuals by one hand of an operator.

12. In combination, two independently operable presses, fluid power means for closing each press, means actuated upon closing of each press for maintaining that press closed, operator-operated release means for each maintaining means, a fluid actuator for each release means, fluid supply means for each power means including two spaced safety manuals, open conduit-means extending from said fluid supply means at a first of said presses to said fluid actuator at the second of said presses, a normally open valve in said conduit means, and a manual at said first press for closing said valve.

GEORGE W. JOHNSON. 

